Arlene Ackerman Contract Amendments Released

Plus: Cliff Lee plays Wiffle ball at Rittenhouse, a new kids play-center, Philly's ESPY awards and more of what everyone is talking about today

Arlene Ackerman Contract Add-ons Revealed. Hundreds of pages of Philadelphia School District documents were turned over to City Hall as part of the “education accountability agreement” designed to keep Mayor Nutter more in the loop on the district’s finances. The city released the documents Wednesday, a portion of which details an unapproved series of amendments to Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s contract—including six-figure bonuses, additional vacation days and free health care for life. [Inquirer]

Cliff Lee Played Wiffle Ball in Rittenhouse Square. Just when the Scoop thought it couldn’t get any easier to love the ace who turned down extra cash to become a Phillie, Cliff Lee spends an evening in Rittenhouse Square playing Wiffle ball with his wife and kids. The Scoop bets he puts his pants on one leg at a time, too. [Crossing Broad]

A New Kids Center is Coming to Center City. “Nest Philadelphia” is set to open at 13th and Locust next month. The multi-purpose facility will offer family memberships, but non-members will still be able to sign up for 60- to 90-minute classes for kids and parents like yoga, cooking and dance courses. The facilities main attraction, though, is its 3,000 square feet of “play space” designed for children ages six months to six years old. [CBS 3]

Eagles, Halladay Win ESPY Awards. The Philadelphia Eagles took home an ESPY yesterday as the team accepted the award for “Best Game” for the 38-31 comeback victory over the Giants last December. The birds scored 28 points in the game’s final seven minutes and capped it off with the “Miracle at the New Meadowlands”—DeSean Jackson’s game-sealing punt-return touchdown. Phils Ace Roy Halladay took home two awards of his own. He won “Best MLB Player” and “Best Moment” for his playoff no-hitter against the Reds. [The 700 Level]

City Zoning Board Approves Renovations to Dilworth Plaza. The $50 million plans call for grass and a sprinkler fountain—that will double as an ice rink in the winter—on the Plaza west of City Hall. There will also be an outdoor cafe and large entrances to the SEPTA system underneath City Hall. Construction is set to start this fall and should be completed by the spring of 2014. [Metro]

Downey’s Owner in Court for Health Violations. Domenico Centofanti—owner of Downey’s at the corner of Front and South Streets—is expected in court today to address issues stemming from a March health inspection that turned up 51 code violations. Inspectors found decomposing rats, evidence of roaches and fruit fly problems at the establishment. In addition to working with inspectors to fix the health violations, Centofanti—and his pub—will be featured on the July 24th episode of Spike TV’s Bar Rescue. The reality show follows a failing bar and its staff as they try to turn things around. Step one: probably get rid of the rat feces. [Inquirer]

Will Joshua Harris Be Philly’s “Mark Cuban”? The New York billionaire made his fortune buying assets on the cheap, revitalizing them and repackaging them to turn a profit. So what can Philly expect after Harris got the Sixers from the bargain bin at the start of the NBA lockout? One expert likens his interest in basketball to that of Mark Cuban. The Scoop doesn’t care if Harris is trying to turn a profit or earn some bragging rights for his next billionaire-yacht soiree—he just wants to see more of this. [Inquirer]